OPELLA acquired by CLAYTON, DUBILIER & RICE (CD&R)

On October 21, 2024, French pharmaceutical group Sanofi entered into exclusive negotiations to sell a 50% stake in its consumer healthcare subsidiary Opella to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, with Sanofi retaining a significant residual shareholding while French public investment bank Bpifrance plans to acquire an equity interest of approximately 2%. For the 2025 financial year, the over-the-counter and dietary supplements company projects annual revenue of €5.2bn. The transaction, structured on an enterprise valuation for Opella agreed at €10–25bn, encompasses the transfer of 11,000 employees, 13 production sites, and 4 research and innovation centers active across 100 countries, covering a portfolio of 115 brands of which fifteen generate 85% of organic growth. Products Zantac and Gold Bond are expressly excluded from the perimeter of the transaction. For vendor Sanofi, led by Paul Hudson, this carve-out reallocates capital toward prescription medicines and innovative vaccines targeting conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory syncytial virus. Under the executive leadership of Julie Van Ongevalle, the agreement ensures the continuity of production facilities and research teams established in France, while financing international commercial expansion for Opella. Execution of the transaction remains subject to social information and consultation processes as well as standard regulatory clearances, with closing anticipated in the second quarter of 2025.